Man's two earliest inventions were the wheel and the chair, so it's no surprise that sooner or later they would be put together to create a chair with wheels on it or a "wheelchair.
" Electric Wheelchairs (or mobility scooters) have come a long way since King Phillip II had a wheelchair in 1595.
With all the latest developments you don't want to select an electric wheelchair based just on the color or how stylish it looks.
There are four important areas you need to pay close attention to.
#1.
Suspension system - do you need it? Adding a suspension system makes the chairs more comfortable, particularly outdoors, but a wheelchair with a suspension system takes a lot more effort to move around, so consider the strength of the person that will be using the chair when deciding about whether to get a chair with a suspension system or not.
#2.
Frame material There are several materials that are used for the frames of wheelchairs, Titanium, Carbon fiber, Steel and Chrome alloyare common.
Of course, they all have their advantages and disadvantages.
-Chrome alloy and steel are the most common materials.
They combine strength and low cost.
-Titanium is the lightest, but very expensive -- 10 to 15 times more expensive than steel.
-Carbon fiber is in between -- lighter than steel and less expensive than titanium.
-Aluminum - very light and relatively inexpensive, but it takes large tubes to get enough strength.
#3.
What type of battery to choose? There are three basic types of batteries in common use with electric wheelchairs: There is the wet lead-acid battery.
It's the cheapest, but it can leak.
The next best is the gel type lead acid battery.
These won't leak, but as you might expect, they are more expensive than the wet lead-acid type battery.
The best type of battery that's in common use is the AGM battery.
These batteries are shock resistant and they have a very long life, but they are the most expensive of the three types.
My advice is to go with the best battery you can afford and cut back in other areas if you have to.
#4.
Camber - how much the wheels lean in at the top Camber adds stability and reduces accidents.
Some designs even have adjustable camber, but I would suggest that you don't spend the money for this and just get a model with a reasonable preset camber.
Bottom line: Take the time to evaluate the your needs and the four factors described above help you select the best electric wheelchair or mobility scooter for your needs.